From Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border, ii. 3.
"There is another ballad, under the same title as the following, in which nearly the same incidents are narrated, with little difference, except that the honour of rescuing the cattle is attributed to the Liddesdale Elliots, headed by a chief, there called Martin Elliot of the Preakin Tower, whose son, Simon, is said to have fallen in the action. It is very possible, that both the Teviotdale Scotts, and the Elliots, were engaged in the affair, and that each claimed the honour of the victory.
"The Editor presumes, that the Willie Scott, here
mentioned, must have been a natural son of the Laird of Buccleuch."—S.
It fell about the Martinmas tyde,
When our Border steeds get corn and hay,
The Captain of Bewcastle hath bound him to ryde,
And he's ower to Tividale to drive a prey.
The first ae guide that they met wi',5
It was high up in [Hardhaughswire];
The second guide that they met wi',
It was laigh down in Borthwick water.
"What tidings, what tidings, my trusty guide?"
"Nae tidings, nae tidings, I hae to thee;10
But gin ye'll gae to the fair [Dodhead],
Mony a cow's cauf I'll let thee see."
And when they cam to the fair Dodhead,
Right hastily they clam the peel;
They loosed the kye out, ane and a',15
And ranshackled the house right weel.
Now Jamie Telfer's heart was sair,
The tear aye rowing in his ee;
He pled wi' the Captain to hae his gear,
Or else revenged he wad be.20